Parkinson's Explained: Robin Williams Revealed To Have Been Diagnosed

The news that much-loved comedy actor Robin Williams was fighting a private battle with the early stages of Parkinson's comes as a surprise to many, with fellow sufferer Michael J Fox tweeting that he was 'stunned'.

Williams' wife Susan Schneider released a statement revealing that her husband wasn't ready to make public his dagnosis. In the early stages the condition can cause trembling limbs and lack of control over muscles, which become worse as the disease progresses.

What does Parkinson’s do?

Parkinson’s is a brain condition that affects around one in every 500 people in the UK. It causes the loss of nerve cells in the brain, leading to a reduction in the amount of dopamine.

This affects the sufferer’s movements, which become more difficult and slower. It is not a fatal condition but symptoms tend to get worse over time.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s

Movement problems are a key symptom of Parkinson’s disease, which is  characterised by slow movements, rigidity and tremors. Other symptoms include tiredness and depression, constipation and pain.

Symptoms vary hugely from person to person but initially many sufferers notice problems with their hand-eye co-ordination, making basic tasks such as writing difficult.

Treatment for Parkinson's

Currently there is no prevention or cure available for Parkinson’s and experts cannot explain why some people develop the condition.

Daiga Heisters from Parkinson’s UK said: “Many people can live a full and active life with their diagnosis of Parkinson's. However, it does affect some people quickly and severely.

"The important thing is that there is plenty of support available for those living with the condition.”

Symptoms can be eased with a combination of drugs, therapies and surgery. Drug treatments aim to improve the balance of dopamine in the brain, therapies help people live with the effects of the condition on a daily basis and surgery is only used rarely for severe cases to control involuntary spasm and movements.

Parkinson's and Depression

Some experts have made links between Parkinson's and depression by looking at hormones and chemical receptors in the brain that appear to show some similarities. This has led some experts to suggest depression could even be an early sign of Parkinson's disease.

But others have been quick to insist that in most cases, anxiety and depression are completely separate conditions. However, pre-existing depression can negatively influence the outcome of the disease, with some sufferers finding the Parkinson's symptoms more extreme.

Heisters added: "If anyone would like advice or support about Parkinson's they can call our free, confidential helpline 0808 800 0303 or www.parkinsons.org.uk."

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